Now I Know

Jethro said, “Blessed be the Lord, who has delivered you from the Egyptians and from Pharaoh. Now I know that the Lord is greater than all gods . . . – Exodus 18: 10, 11a

Later he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were sitting at the table; and he upbraided them for their lack of faith and stubbornness, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. – Mark 16: 14

Jethro knew, beyond the shadow of a doubt, Yahweh was greater than all the gods, even the gods of mighty Egypt. Jethro witnessed the mass of freed slaves in his neighborhood. Something mighty must have happened. Moses, his son-in-law told what happened. Now he knew there’s no other god like Yahweh. Alleluia.

The disciples heard testimonies of a resurrected Jesus being seen. They didn’t believe the testimonies of friends and acquaintances. In Mark’s gospel, they didn’t believe until they saw him walk in the room and rebuke them for their unbelief. This sounds so real to me.

Now they knew there was no other God like Yahweh, and no other Savior like his Son, Jesus.

I’m not all that interested in joining in the choruses of jeers and rebukes directed at the learners for not believing in the testimonies of others regarding a possible occurrences that was beyond understanding. Death was much more believable than life from death, even if he told them it was going to happen.

Jethro saw the evidence of Yahweh’s work. The disciples saw him walk in the room.

Of course, Jesus still rebuked them for not believing in what others told them. See, we’re in a new metaphysical reality, a new understanding of the earth and heaven. We’re on this side of the resurrection, the ascension and Pentecost. This whole paradigm of not believing until I see it has no grounding anymore. Actually, Abraham dispelled that way of thinking generations before by believing what the Lord promised him regardless of how conditions were. Now, we know all things are possible.

We stand on new ground, sing a new song, declare a fresh message of hope and peace from God who will never leave us nor abandon us. Sins are forgiven, our spirits are reconciled to our God who’s taken the cost of unrighteousness upon himself because he so wanted a family, a people to whom he would show his love and faithfulness. Alleluia.

Now we know how good God is. Now we know there is no one nor anything like him. Now we know all things are possible to the one who believes. Now we know we’re loved and cherished and empowered and gifted to show the world he is love and life.